Ghana’s Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected two legal bids to block a controversial bill punishing the country’s LGBTQ+ community for engaging in sexual acts.
The law, known as the Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, was approved by Parliament in February. It provides for a prison sentence of six months to three years for sexual minorities who have intimate relationships with each other.
The bill received widespread public support in Ghana but was condemned internationally for curtailing LGBTQ+ rights.
The court ruled that since outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo had not yet signed the bill, it could not be declared unconstitutional.
“It would be premature for this court to use its interpretive and enforcement jurisdiction to intervene. As a result, the action fails,” Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, head of the court’s seven-member panel, said as she read the decision.
He said, “Until the Bill is assent to the President, there will be no action that the Supreme Court will use its supervisory jurisdiction to overturn.”
future of law uncertain
Akufo-Addo, who was due to officially step down on January 7 after losing the country’s most recent election, said he was waiting for a ruling on its constitutionality before signing the bill.
The President has not indicated what he will do next.
His successor, John Mahama, has previously said that he does not support expanded LGBTQ+ rights in Ghana, but has not said whether he would sign a related bill.
es/lo (AFP, Reuters)